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Wenger defends substitution

Arsene Wenger reacted furiously to the Arsenal fans who criticised him for taking off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the second half of Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, making his first Barclays Premier League start, was by far Arsenal's best player in the first half and also set up Robin van Persie for their equaliser in the second period after Antonio Valencia had put United ahead.

Wenger's decision to substitute the 18-year-old for Andrey Arshavin in the 74th minute was met with a loud chorus of boos from the home fans, but Wenger said: "I can understand that the fans are upset about the substitution, especially when it doesn't work, but he (Oxlade-Chamberlain) had started to fatigue."